Maxi Joe cole Kuyt Aquilani Spearing Henderson Lucas Adam Downing Gerrard Mierales That's 11 players which is far to many to keep them all happy does anyone else think we have to sell ? If so who?
Kuyt is a centre forward and not a midfielder and you forgot Coady,Poulsen and Shelvey. Plus. Henderson and Maxi can play wide. So they don't come into the central midfield equation. Downing is a winger and doesn't come into it either. Its better to have too many central midfielders than be like Man United who don't have any worth mentioning.
That's a good enough starting 11 if you ask me! Just gotta decide who goes in goal On a serious note, out of those listed Joe Cole has to leave. And if Maxi decides to go then that's no real problem (although admittedly i do like Maxi).
Coady is still a youth player so I don't count him. I did forgot about shelvey so I'll give you that. Kuyt doesn't play up front he plays right so is in our midfield list. Either way we still have to many players and will struggle to keep them all happy.
Kuyt was played on the right for two reasons,his energy was best served there and because Torres played as a lone striker. Expect Kuyt to play up front more now than he has ever done. Therefore he is a forward and not a midfielder. I do agree that Cole must go,as does Poulsen,I reckon Maxi will be released next summer anyway,he doesn't owe us anything. As will Soto and Aurelio.
11 players for one position? So you would happily do this? Lucas Kuyt Downing Aquiani As a four man midfield. Downing players a different position to all of those players, left wing. Kuyt is a striker who can also play right mid. Meireles are attack minded and like to play further forward, and would be pretty poor as a defenssive md. Lucas plays defensive/ holding mid, he is a solid tackler, great positionally and a nice passer. Adam also play deep, but cant ackle, and is more attack minded than Lucas. Henderson is young, more one for the future, but could well play wide right. Spearing is a pretty neutral player, neat, consistant but not specialist. I dont need to say any thing about Gerrard. I heard Maxi was leaving, but if he doesnt then he players wide or further forward any way. Joe Cole is just versatile, but not really a typical midfielder. With most teams lining up in 4 lines instead of three these days (4321, 4411, 4141, 4231 etc) I think of the positions as defence, midfield, attack and striker. I include wingers in attack. So thats: Midfielders are the players that play in the middle of the field (well derr (but how could any one ever call a winger a midfielder?)), so for us: Gerrard, Lucas, Aquilani, Meireles, Adam, Spearing (a good balance of attack minded, neutral minded and defencive minded. Theres runners, passers, tacklers and dominators). Attackers (players who would play across the 3 in a 4231 for example): Downing, Maxi, Cole, Kuyt. I dont know where Henderson will play yet, and obviously sme will play both. Thats just my out look on things, but I think its pretty accurate.
Jkiel. Spot on. Compare that to Man Uniteds central midfield. Tom Cleverly a rookie thats currently no better than Jay Spearing. Anderson who is neither an attacking midfielder,because he's too fat or a defensive midfielder because he can't tackle. Giggs who is 37. Darron Gibson who has one talent and that is to occasionally whack the ball over the bar. Carrick who plays like Raul Mereiles, without the goals or the forward passing.
Wide players - Downing, Kuyt, Henderson, Maxi Defensive Central - Spearing, Lucas Attacking Central - Meireles, Aqualani, Adam And then Gerrard who can probably fall into any of those 3. Plenty of options to cover injuries or poor form. Cole & Poulson haven't shown anything to suggets they deserve a place in the squad so can either work extra hard or go elsewhere. If neither are happy at not playing football then take a pay cut and go play elsewhere. What's more important, playing games or picking up 90k a week? So that's 10 players competing for 4 / 5 positions depending on formation. Thats 2 for every position which is perfect for a 25 man squad.
Yes we are looking a little over-loaded with midfield players if you only look at the numbers. However, if you consider that they all have very different skills then matters look slightly different (as has been discussed above). However, I have to ask the question - why do we have to keep them happy? Kenny has always adhered to the principle that that the team and the club are THE most important factors. So if you want to be happy at Liverpool you will have to demonstrate in games and in training that you have the skills and abilities that both the team and the club need. If you don't then you can be both unhappy and leave!
Brilliant statement!! You can break things up even further. I put Meireles and Aquilani as attacking options, but even they are very different. Meireles play is a lot about movement, simple passes and a powerful strike. He makes him self available for the pass, passes it on neatly, and then makes him self available for the next pass. Aquilani is all about fancy passes, 40 yard wonder balls and clever touches. They could actually work very well together. Aquilani needs good movement from his team mates and Meireles needs good passes.
Dave. I'm surprised you don't have more rep,You're one of the top posters amongst us Liverpool fans alongside Page Moss,Skyarker,Chris Woods etc. I would give rep if I could,I'll see if I'm able. Apparently I can't as I have done previously.
Great analysis of those two. I think both of those 2 are safeguards against us going long to Carroll all the time. There's a reason Mereiles was the standout player under Hodgson, and that's because he continued to play passing football rather than the long ball the rest were forced to adopt. With one or both in the team we will always have a certain amount of clever football, which we need. Aquilani couldn't get involved in the game yesterday, but he relishes that advanced role normally, and i think it was maybe a case of trying to tie together too many good ideas against a class opposition. Over the long term having Aquilani behind Carroll with Suarez and Downing interchanging could be lethal. Mereiles, Aquilani and Lucas would be a superb midfield for European games, shame we don't have them!
Only problem with playing both Aqualani and Meireles in the same team would be that neither of them want to make tackles. You'd have to play Lucas as well unless we are playing teams where we are going to dominate possession and not have to make many tackles. Even then it would be quite risky.
It is unlikely that you would start a game with the 2 of them. However, if Kenny wished to maximise his advantage when already in the lead, you could finish the game with them both.
I agree with you. But There is a good way around it... Meireles Gerrard Lucas Downing ---------Aquilani-------------- -----------Striker------------- Yesterdays midfield was: ---------Spearing---Adam---------- --Henderson---Aquilani---Downing--- But that shape will change once Suarez is in.
